LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – Less hidden gem, more shiny pearl.
Reviving downtown Laredo is taking on a new life, and at the heart of the idea is a simple approach: when a city loves its downtown, downtown returns the favor.
And to do that, it starts by thinking of Laredo first—with the belief that everything else will follow.
In a packed room that quickly became standing room only, Killam Development President and CEO Cliffe Killam outlined a vision for what downtown Laredo could eventually become.
Going into detail, Killam shared a strategy centered on business, food, and art to sustain the area for the long term.
Killam pointed to an example just up the road.
“You know, downtown San Antonio feels like it’s more for tourism than it is for locals and for the people that live there. And I would argue that the Pearl Brewery feels more catering to the people that live in that community, and it just so happens that they also get tourism,” Killam said. “A similar view in terms of their project, which was ‘we wanna serve the people of San Antonio’ with this project. And I think that it shows when you walk through there, you can just feel it.”
Whether it becomes a gem, a pearl, or a diamond, it first has to be home—and that’s what the developer is betting on.
Price of Doing Business with the City of Laredo
But the price of doing business isn’t just counted in dollars, and as many entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners know, it’s also measured in the experience you walk away with.
And for a long time, one entity has been more of a problem than a partner.
“And I don’t like saying this, but I’ve had so many people tell me their worst professional experience in their life was working with the city of Laredo,” Killam said at the 2024 Chamber of Commerce Business ICONS Award, where he was named the Laredo Chamber’s Business Person of the Year.
He went into detail. “I believe there are so many fundamental and systemic issues that have accumulated with getting anything done through Laredo’s processes and approvals. From annexation to certificate of occupancy, entrepreneurs and businesses — from land developers to food truck operators and everything in between — are struggling with the inconsistencies, the massive time delays, the lack of decision-making, and the brittle system that holds our municipal government together.”
That was before. Although he presented some of the persisting difficulties navigating the city’s business process, Killam acknowledged an opportunity for a new era that could make things right.
“In my estimation, you know, we have a great city council. There’s really great people on there. They’re very business-friendly. They’re proactive. I believe they recognize these issues, and they want to see positive change,” he added in his speech.
Panel Discussion
Cliffe Killam, the visionary behind the plan, elaborated on how the ideas in the plan aim to unite the community in creating a vibrant and sustainable downtown.
Killam also discusses the sales pitch aimed at gaining support from Laredoans. He highlights the city’s competitive strengths, its history, lessons drawn from case studies of other downtowns across the country that shaped the vision, the steps involved in launching a business with the City of Laredo, the challenges posed by certain inconsistencies, the work still required, and more.
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